Disagreeable Men

Elijah Durham inclined his head. “Ollie,” he said as casual as if meeting a long friend in a saloon. Not like a man ready to kill them all in an instant. If he’d thought the lack of title would prick her, he was mistaken. Ollie didn’t give a scrap for the things.

“What brings you out this way?” she asked. She shifted her weight back, an added benefit being putting another step between them.

Elijah tutted. The sound caused a stir in the crowd about her, and from the midst of the townsfolk, Dreadmen emerged. They stepped from shadows with steam spilling about them. Men’s eyes and monstrous legs. The squeal accompanying their movements still sent chills up Ollie’s spine.

Figured. Elijah wouldn’t go a stone’s throw without a few of their lot watching his back.

“I do believe that the sherif had a valid question.” He drew his gun as two Dreadmen stepped to either side of him. “Where is Josephine Maria Zigler?”

Ollie huffed. Not her again. Couldn’t anyone think of anything beyond the miss anymore? “Not here.” Ollie shrugged.

“But you know where.” He flicked his empty hand, and the Dreadmen beside him advanced. “And you will tell me.”

Ollie shuffled back more steps. Glancing sideways, she caught Timothy and Alyssa retreating likewise. This was too hot. Heh, just like the explosion before had been hot and attention getting. Whatever had caused that, they desperately needed another.